Navkar Mantra

Namaskär Mahämangal Sutra

नमो अरिहंताणं।	Namo Arihantänam
नमो सिद्धाणं।	Namo Siddhänam
नमो आयरियाणं।	Namo Äyariyänam
नमो उवज्झायाणं।	Namo Uvajjhäyänam
नमो लोए सव्वसाहूणं।	Namo Loe Savva Sähunam
एसो पंच नमुक्कारो।	Eso Pancha Namukkäro
सव्वपावप्पणासणो।	Savva Pävappanäsano
मंगलाणं च सव्वेसिं	Mangalänam cha Savvesim
पढमं हवइ मंगलं।।	Padhamam Havai Mangalam

I bow to all Arihant, I bow to all Siddha, I bow to all the Ächärya, I bow to the Upädhyäy, I bow to all the Sädhu and Sädhvi

To these five types of great souls, I offer my prayers, May such prayer help diminish all my negative vibrations and sins. Amongst all of the auspicious benedictions, offering this prayer is the foremost.

Namaskär Mahämangal Sutra is also known as Namaskär Mantra, Navakär Mantra, or Namokär Mantra.  This is the most revered sutra in Jainism in which homage is paid to the five worship-worthy personalities: Arihant (enlightened human beings), Siddha (liberated souls), Ächärya (head of the Jain congregation), Upädhyäy (ascetic teachers), and all Sädhus including all monks and nuns (ascetics) of the universe. 

The Namaskär Mahämangal sutra illuminates and awakens the divine qualities of the soul like the light brightens the dark surroundings.  It is not just a religious ritualistic prayer, but an eternal expression of perfection.  It is a key to the divine treasury of knowledge.

The Namaskär Mahämangal has 9 sentences.  The first five sentences provide obeisance to the above five worshipful personalities and the remaining four sentences explain the importance of these obeisance.

Namo Arihantänam

I bow to all Arihant (Tirthankars or Jina) who have attained enlightenment by overcoming their inner weaknesses such as anger, ego, deceit, and greed.  They have achieved infinite knowledge, infinite vision, perfect conviction and conduct, and infinite energy.  This way they have eradicated all karma which subdued the original qualities of the soul (four Ghäti karma).  They are perfect human beings and they have shown us the path to liberation which brings an end to the cycle of life, death, and suffering.  At the end of their life the remaining human body related karma will be exhausted, and they will become pure soul (soul without body) known as Siddha.

Namo Siddhänam

I bow to all Siddha (liberated souls) who have attained the state of perfection and immortality.  They are pure soul and pure consciousness.  They possess no karma and hence no physical body.  After Nirväna (death), all Arihant become Siddha.

Namo Äyariyänam

I bow to all the Ächärya, who are the heads of various Jain congregations.  They explain the path of liberation, which is the unity of Samyag Darshan (Right Faith), Samyag Jnän (Right Knowledge), and Samyak Chäritra (Right Conduct).  They explain the importance of spiritual life over material life and preach to live a compassionate and simple life.

Namo Uvajjhäyänam

I bow to the Upädhyäy, who are the learned scholars of the Jain scriptures and their proper interpretations.  They teach the principles of Jain religion and how to apply such principles in our daily life.

Namo Loe Savva Sähunam

I bow to all the Sädhus and Sädhvis (ascetics) of the universe who strictly follow the five great vows of conduct; Ahimsä, truth, non-stealing, celibacy, and non-possession and thus inspire us to live a simple life.

Eso Pancha Namukkäro, Savva Pävappanäsano

This five-fold obeisance eradicates all sins.

Mangalänam Cha Savvesim, Padhamam Havai Mangalam.

This Navakär Mantra is foremost amongst all that is auspicious.  The Namokär Mantra is the most sacred mantra in Jainism and can be recited at any time.  While reciting the Namokär Mantra, we bow down and offer obeisance to Arihant (souls who have reached the state of non-attachment towards worldly matters), Siddha (liberated souls), Ächärya (heads of the Jain Sangh, consisting of Sädhu, Sädhvi, Shrävak, and Shrävikä), Upädhyäy (those who have mastered and teach scriptures and Jain principles to followers), and all Sädhu and Sädhvi (monks and nuns, who have renounced their worldly attachments).

Together, they are called Panch Parameshthi (five supreme beings).  In this mantra, we worship their virtues rather than worshipping anyone as an entity.  When we recite Namokär Mantra, it reminds us that one must work hard to attain these virtues.  This mantra is also called Namaskär or Namokär Mantra because in this Mantra we offer Namaskär (bowing down) to these five supreme beings.  Recitation of the Namokär Mantra creates positive vibrations around us and repels negative ones.

The ultimate goal of every embodied soul should be to become a liberated soul.  To liberate from the cycle of life and death, we ultimately need to renounce worldly affairs by becoming a monk or a nun.  By following the right path, we will progress to a higher spiritual state (Kevali or Arihant), and ultimately proceed to become a Siddha after Nirväna (liberation from the cycle of birth and death).  Namokär mantra shows us that path.

As per the Sanskrit language, Namokär Mantra is composed of 68 letters in nine lines.  In the first and second line, obeisance is offered to the omniscient Lords.  In the third, fourth, and fifth line, obeisance is offered to Guru Mahäräj.  The remaining four lines explain the importance of this obeisance.  Some Jain traditions do not include the last four lines in Namokär Mantra.

There are 108 attributes of the Panch Parameshthi (Arihant, Siddha, Ächärya, Upädhyäy, and Sädhu/ Sädhvi). The Jain rosary has 108 beads signifying the 108 attributes of the five supreme beings.  These 108 attributes are as follows:

Arihant	12 attributes
Siddha	8 attributes
Ächärya	36 attributes
Upädhyäy	25 attributes
Sädhu and Sädhvi	27 attributes
Total	108 attributes